Tens of thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators took to the streets across the world on Saturday, May 18, 2025, to mark Nakba Day, commemorating the mass displacement of Palestinians in 1948. This year’s rallies were particularly charged, taking place against the backdrop of the ongoing Israeli assault on Gaza, which has claimed over 53,000 lives since October 2023.
From London to Berlin, New York to Jakarta, protesters marched in solidarity with Palestinians, demanding an immediate end to the Israeli bombardment, increased humanitarian aid to Gaza, and international accountability for what many described as “genocide” and ethnic cleansing.
In London, thousands gathered in central Trafalgar Square waving Palestinian flags, chanting “Free Palestine” and calling for the UK government to halt arms sales to Israel. The rally featured speeches from prominent activists, politicians, and Jewish solidarity groups. Police maintained a strong presence, but the demonstration remained peaceful.
In Berlin, protesters formed a massive human chain stretching from the Brandenburg Gate to the Israeli Embassy. Chants of “Ceasefire now!” and “Stop arming Israel!” echoed throughout the city. German authorities have faced growing pressure to re-evaluate their support for Israel amid worsening civilian casualties in Gaza.
Across the United States, large protests were held in New York City, Chicago, and Los Angeles. In NYC, demonstrators staged a sit-in near Times Square, holding photos of Palestinian children killed in the recent Israeli airstrikes. Several university groups and labor unions participated, amplifying calls for sanctions against Israel.
In Jakarta, Indonesia, thousands gathered at the U.S. Embassy to denounce American military aid to Israel. Protesters carried banners reading “End the Siege on Gaza” and “Support Resistance, End Occupation.” The Indonesian government has maintained a strong stance against Israel’s actions, echoing the sentiments of many in the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation.
Demonstrations were also held in France, South Africa, Malaysia, Turkey, Spain, Lebanon, and Canada, making this one of the largest coordinated pro-Palestinian mobilizations in recent years.
Nakba Day, which marks the displacement of more than 700,000 Palestinians during the creation of the state of Israel in 1948, has long been a day of remembrance and protest. But the 2025 commemorations have taken on heightened urgency amid unprecedented civilian suffering in Gaza.
The protests come just days after reports of Israeli airstrikes killing more than 100 people in Gaza in a single night, as ceasefire talks in Doha stall over key sticking points, including Hamas’ status and Israel’s demand for complete demilitarization of the Strip.
Rights organizations including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch released statements in support of the protesters, reiterating demands for an arms embargo on Israel and an independent international investigation into potential war crimes.
As the war continues and the humanitarian catastrophe deepens, Nakba Day 2025 served not just as a historical reflection, but a global indictment of ongoing injustice, with protesters vowing to sustain pressure on their governments and international bodies to act.
Source; Al Jazeera
